“California is back in business,” said
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)
Director Will Kempton. “We want contractors
to come back to the state – there’s
work to be done.”

The CTC’s action
to release the $1.26 billion will provide more
money for transportation in the first month of
the new fiscal year than the entire amount set
aside ($900 million) all of last year. The CTC
is expected to earmark an estimated $4.1 billion
for transportation during the 2005-06 fiscal year.

The surge of new transportation
dollars comes largely from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s
reinstatement of $1.313 billion in Proposition
42 monies to the State Transportation Investment
Fund. It also includes expected Indian gaming revenues
and regular revenues Caltrans receives from State
and Federal gas taxes and truck weight fees.

“California is turning the corner when
it comes to building and maintaining our transportation
infrastructure,” Kempton said. “The
Governor’s reinstatement of Proposition 42
funds will pay for projects that will reduce traffic
congestion, facilitate goods movement and create
jobs.”

All projects funded today are ready to go to
construction, including the following major projects:

Santa Rosa – Widening
State Route 101 in Sonoma County - $51.3 million
was allocated for a project that will reduce traffic
congestion and improve air quality in the northern
Bay Area. Two new carpool lanes (one in each direction)
will be added between Route 12 and Steele Lane.
Total project cost: $82.5 million.

Fresno – Widening
State Route 99 in Fresno County - $32.9 million
was allocated for a project to convert over ten
miles of State Route 99 from a four-lane expressway
to a six-lane freeway between Kingsburg and Selma.
Commuters will spend less time stuck in traffic,
improving their quality of life. State Route 99
is a key commerce corridor, and this project will
expedite goods movement. Total project cost: $53.9
million.

Orange County – State
Route 22 Carpool Lanes - $123.7 was allocated
for a project that will benefit many Southern
California communities, including Orange, Garden
Grove, Westminster and Santa Ana. The project
(currently under construction) is adding 12.5
miles of new carpool lanes on State Route 22 from
Interstate 405 to State Route 55. Auxiliary lanes
and soundwalls also will be built. The project
will improve air quality, provide traffic congestion
relief, and lower freeway noise. Total project
cost: $500 million.

Los Angeles – New
Light Rail Vehicles - $29.1 million was allocated
for a project to purchase 50 new light rail vehicles
that will be used system-wide, including the Pasadena
Gold Line and Metro Gold Line Eastside Extension.
The new vehicles will enable transit services
to carry more passengers and offer commuters a
good alternative to driving. Total project cost:
$128 million.

Most of the $1.26 billion in funding was allocated
for these categories:
Highways $460 million
Transit $32 million
Rail $8 million
Highway Operational
Improvements and Rehabilitation $526 million

The remaining funding will be used primarily for safety projects,
acquiring right of way, and transportation planning.

The CTC’s next meeting
is scheduled for August 17 and 18 in Sacramento,
and additional projects will be considered. For
a list of the projects approved today by the CTC,
go to: www.dot.ca.gov